UltimateCity Guide Mumbai
Our favourites
Marine Drive’s Queen’s Necklace lit up at night, with the towers of South Mumbai behind Marine Drive’s Queen’s Necklace lit up at night, with the towers of South Mumbai behind The Taj Mahal Palace, the Taj Tower and the Gateway of India from the harbour Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, a UNESCO World Heritage Site The Bandra–Worli Sea Link and the Worli skyline in the evening light

The city guide to Mumbai, India

Best of Mumbai

The Queen’s Necklace at night, the Taj facing the Gateway of India, Gothic and Art Deco landmarks, the Sea Link at sunset, and some of India’s most exciting restaurants.

Where to eatWhat to see

Your trusted, one‑stop guide to Mumbai

Mumbai is a city by the sea: the Taj and the Gateway of India on the harbour, the curve of Marine Drive, the Gothic and Art Deco buildings of Fort and Churchgate, and the towers of Worli, Lower Parel and BKC rising beside the Sea Link. Bandra and Juhu bring cafés, promenades and beaches, and Elephanta, Alibag, Lonavala, Matheran and Pune are all within a day. We’ve checked every listing against the venue’s own website or an official source, and we leave out anything we can’t confirm.

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT)

World Heritage

CSMT, the Gothic station

Fort·UNESCO World Heritage Site

F. W. Stevens’ Victorian Gothic terminus, built over ten years from 1878 and listed by UNESCO in 2004, is still one of India’s busiest stations. Start a heritage walk here, then continue to Flora Fountain and the Oval Maidan.

Plan your visit

Mumbai by neighbourhood

From Colaba to Juhu: each area has its own guide.

The Gateway of India lit up at dusk on the Apollo Bunder waterfrontNeighbourhood guideColaba & the GatewayThe Taj and the harbourFlora Fountain at Hutatma Chowk in FortNeighbourhood guideFort & Kala GhodaGothic landmarks and galleriesMarine Drive’s Queen’s Necklace lit up at night, with the towers of South Mumbai behindNeighbourhood guideMarine Drive & ChurchgateThe Queen’s NecklaceThe white minaret of Haji Ali DargahNeighbourhood guideMalabar Hill & MahalaxmiGardens and shrinesThe Bandra–Worli Sea Link and the Worli skyline in the evening lightNeighbourhood guideWorli & Lower ParelTowers, mills and the Sea LinkJio World Centre in BKCNeighbourhood guideBKCNMACC and Jio World CentreA sculpture on the Bandstand promenade in BandraNeighbourhood guideBandraPromenades and cafésA stream in the forest of Sanjay Gandhi National ParkNeighbourhood guideJuhuThe beach and the theatre

Plan your trip

The practical things to know before you go.

The canopy of Terminal 2 at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International AirportBefore you goMumbai essentialse-Visa, money and getting aroundA Metro Line 3 (Aqua Line) train at AareyGetting aroundGetting aroundAirports, Metro and trainsChhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, a UNESCO World Heritage SiteItinerarySouth Mumbai heritage dayThe classic dayThe grand staircase inside the Taj Mahal PalaceLuxury guideLuxury MumbaiThe finest addresses

Beyond Mumbai

Cave temples, a beach fort, hill stations and the Peshwas’ city.

The great three-headed relief in the main cave at ElephantaBeyond MumbaiElephanta CavesUNESCO cave templesThe Gateway of India lit up at dusk on the Apollo Bunder waterfrontBeyond MumbaiAlibagA beach and a sea fortGreen monsoon hills around LonavalaBeyond MumbaiLonavala & KhandalaHill stations and ancient cavesThe Neral–Matheran toy train in the forestBeyond MumbaiMatheranA hill station without carsThe main gate of Shaniwar Wada in PuneBeyond MumbaiPuneShaniwar Wada and the Aga Khan Palace

In depth: Mumbai’s back stories

The grand hotels, Gothic and Art Deco, how to eat and where to buy.

The Taj Mahal Palace, the Taj Tower and the Gateway of India from the harbourThe back storyThe grand hotelsThe Taj to BKCFlora Fountain at Hutatma Chowk in FortThe back storyGothic and Art DecoThree UNESCO sitesVada pav, Mumbai’s favourite snackThe back storyEating in MumbaiFrom vada pav to tasting menusThe Bandra–Worli Sea Link and the Worli skyline in the evening lightThe back storyBuying in MumbaiWhere to buy, and who canThe restored reading room of the David Sassoon Library in Kala GhodaFun factsMumbai fun factsThings you might not know

ULTIMATE City Guides: Europe & beyond

Planning a longer journey? Each city in the network has its own independent guide, written with the same care and checked place by place. Here are the guides that are live, with more on the way.

The Acropolis of Athens by day, seen from Philopappos HillGreeceULTIMATE AthensThe Acropolis and the Plaka, rooftop bars facing the Parthenon, the Athens Riviera and the Greek islands: our original guide, and our deepest.Visit the guide The old town of Belgrade above the Sava, with the spire of the Cathedral Church of St MichaelSerbiaULTIMATE BelgradeWhere the Sava meets the Danube: a buzzing capital of art, classical music and famous nightlife, with a new waterfront and the mountains of Zlatibor and Kopaonik.Visit the guide The Romanian Athenaeum in its gardenRomaniaULTIMATE BucharestBelle Époque palaces, concerts at the Athenaeum, a buzzing food and coffee scene, and the castles and mountains of the Carpathians.Visit the guide The Hungarian Parliament lit up at night on the DanubeHungaryULTIMATE BudapestThermal baths, grand coffee houses, ruin bars and MICHELIN-starred dining on both banks of the Danube, with day trips to the Danube Bend and Lake Balaton.Visit the guide Oia’s white houses and blue domes on the rim of the Santorini calderaGreeceULTIMATE Greek IslandsIsland hopping made easy: Mykonos, Santorini, Paros, Naxos, Milos and the Cyclades, plus Crete, Rhodes and Corfu, with ferries, beaches, hotels and tavernas.Visit the guide The Blue Mosque at nightTurkeyULTIMATE IstanbulTwo continents, one city: Hagia Sophia and the bazaars, Bosphorus ferries, meyhanes and rooftop bars, Sinan’s hammams and the car-free Princes’ Islands.Visit the guide The Triple Bridge over the LjubljanicaSloveniaULTIMATE LjubljanaSlovenia’s green, car-free capital of river cafés and Plečnik’s bridges, an hour from Lake Bled, the Julian Alps, the caves and the Adriatic.Visit the guide The Palace of Westminster and the Elizabeth TowerUnited KingdomULTIMATE LondonRoyal palaces and the Thames, world-class museums, West End theatre, grand hotels, and the restaurants and bars of Soho, Mayfair and the City.Visit the guide Yachts in Puerto BanúsSpainULTIMATE MarbellaWhitewashed lanes and orange trees in the Old Town, the yachts of Puerto Banús, beach clubs on the Golden Mile and day trips to Ronda and Gibraltar.Visit the guide Monaco from above, Port Hercule and Monte-Carlo below the mountainsOur sister guideULTIMATE MonacoThe Casino and Monte-Carlo’s palace hotels, the Prince’s Palace on the Rock, superyachts in Port Hercule, Larvotto’s beach clubs and the Grand Prix streets.Visit the guide The Millennium Bridge over the MoračaMontenegroULTIMATE PodgoricaMontenegro’s relaxed capital of rivers and café terraces, and the gateway to the Bay of Kotor, Lake Skadar, Cetinje and the mountains.Visit the guide The Sebilj fountain and the square of BaščaršijaBosnia & HerzegovinaULTIMATE SarajevoWhere East meets West at a line in the pavement: an Ottoman bazaar, Habsburg boulevards, Bosnian coffee and the 1984 Olympic mountains, with Mostar two hours away.Visit the guide The Stone Bridge over the VardarNorth MacedoniaULTIMATE SkopjeA 15th-century stone bridge between a 21st-century square and an Ottoman bazaar, Kenzo Tange’s concrete city, Matka Canyon, and Lake Ohrid three hours away.Visit the guide St Alexander Nevsky CathedralBulgariaULTIMATE SofiaRoman streets beneath the city, golden domes, warm mineral springs and a mountain at the end of the main boulevard.Visit the guide Skanderbeg Square with the Et’hem Bey MosqueAlbaniaULTIMATE TiranaAn Ottoman mosque painted with waterfalls, museums in bunkers, Blloku’s cafés and the Dajti cable car, with Berat, Gjirokastër, the Alps and the Riviera within reach.Visit the guide The spires of Zagreb Cathedral above the rooftopsCroatiaULTIMATE ZagrebCroatia’s elegant capital of cafés, museums and markets, and the gateway to Plitvice Lakes, Istria, Dubrovnik and the islands of the Adriatic.Visit the guide Goat Cay and the turquoise shallows of the ExumasOur sister guideULTIMATE The BahamasSeven hundred islands: Nassau and Paradise Island, the Exuma Cays and the swimming pigs, Harbour Island’s pink sand, marinas and island hopping.Visit the guide The golden sand and calm water of Paynes Bay, St. JamesOur sister guideULTIMATE BarbadosThe Platinum West Coast and Sandy Lane, UNESCO-listed Bridgetown, rum where it was born, Friday nights in Oistins and the wild Atlantic east.Visit the guide Bixby Creek Bridge on the Big Sur coastUSAULTIMATE CaliforniaSan Francisco, Napa and Sonoma, Big Sur and the Pacific Coast Highway, San Diego, Palm Springs, Lake Tahoe and the national parks.Visit the guide The beach at Rosemary Beach on the Gulf of MexicoUSAULTIMATE FloridaOrlando and the theme parks, Palm Beach, Tampa Bay, Sarasota, St. Augustine and Scenic Highway 30A.Visit the guide The Las Vegas Strip at duskNevadaULTIMATE Las VegasThe Strip and its shows, MICHELIN dining, Sphere and Fremont Street’s neon, with Red Rock Canyon, Hoover Dam and the Grand Canyon beyond.Visit the guide Griffith Observatory with downtown Los Angeles beyondCaliforniaULTIMATE Los AngelesHollywood and the Walk of Fame, Beverly Hills’ grand hotels, the Sunset Strip, the Getty and the beaches from Santa Monica to Malibu.Visit the guide Art Deco hotels on Ocean Drive, Miami BeachFloridaULTIMATE MiamiSouth Beach and the Art Deco district, Wynwood’s murals, the Design District, Little Havana’s cafecito and the beaches of Key Biscayne.Visit the guide Sunset at the Naples PierFloridaULTIMATE NaplesWhite-sand beaches and sunsets on the Gulf of Mexico, Fifth Avenue’s terraces, grand beach resorts and golf, with the Everglades and Marco Island close by.Visit the guide The New York City skyline from Top of the RockNew YorkULTIMATE New YorkManhattan’s grand hotels and MICHELIN dining, Broadway and the Met, Fifth Avenue shopping, Central Park and the walk across the Brooklyn Bridge to DUMBO.Visit the guide Gros Piton and Petit Piton, the twin volcanic spires of the UNESCO-listed PitonsOur sister guideULTIMATE St LuciaThe UNESCO Pitons and Soufrière’s drive-in volcano, Marigot Bay, Rodney Bay and the Gros Islet street party, reefs, rum and cocoa.Visit the guide An aerial view of a small island ringed by reef in the MaldivesOur sister guideULTIMATE MaldivesUndersea restaurants and overwater bars, Hanifaru Bay’s mantas, the whale sharks of South Ari, private islands and the little capital, Malé.Visit the guide The Lujiazui skyline across the Huangpu River from the BundChinaULTIMATE ShanghaiThe grand hotels of the Bund facing the towers of Pudong, every MICHELIN star, Yu Garden, the two Shanghai Museums and day trips to Suzhou and Hangzhou.Visit the guide The ramparts of Galle FortOur sister guideULTIMATE Sri LankaColombo, the ramparts of Galle Fort, the Temple of the Tooth in Kandy, the tea country by train, Sigiriya and leopards in Yala.Visit the guide

HOT TOPICS · Have Your Say

The latest from our readers: visitors and locals talking about Mumbai, its restaurants, theatres, museums and neighbourhoods.

    Have your say in HOT TOPICS

    NCPA (National Centre for the Performing Arts)

    This week's pick

    NCPA (National Centre for the Performing Arts)

    Nariman Point·Arts centre

    At the NCPA this week: a concert in honour of Coomi Wadia (21 October) and “Death and the Maiden” (28 October). The NCPA International Jazz Festival 2026 begins on 20 November.

    Find out more

    Every list in the guide

    Plan your day

    Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, a UNESCO World Heritage SiteItinerarySouth Mumbai heritage dayOne day, on foot and by taxiThe great three-headed relief in the main cave at ElephantaItineraryElephanta by ferryHalf a day (not Mondays)A sculpture on the Bandstand promenade in BandraItineraryBandra and JuhuOne day, by taxiThe Jamshed Bhabha Theatre at the NCPA, Nariman PointItineraryA culture evening in South MumbaiAn eveningThe Bandra–Worli Sea Link and the Worli skyline in the evening lightItineraryA property viewing day: South Mumbai, Worli, BKC and BandraOne day, by car

    Know your neighbourhoods

    Our favourites right now

    Restaurants

    1. 1Eating in Mumbai: the back storyMumbai · In depth
    2. 2MasqueMahalaxmi · Tasting menu
    3. 3The Bombay CanteenLower Parel · Modern Indian
    See all 11

    Cafés

    1. 1Sea Lounge, The Taj Mahal PalaceColaba · Afternoon tea
    2. 2Shamiana, The Taj Mahal PalaceColaba · All-day café
    3. 3The Nutcracker, Kala GhodaKala Ghoda · Café
    See all 5

    Bars

    1. 1Harbour Bar, The Taj Mahal PalaceColaba · Hotel bar
    2. 2AER, Four Seasons MumbaiWorli · Rooftop bar
    3. 3Koi Bar, The St. Regis MumbaiLower Parel · Hotel bar
    See all 5

    Hotels

    1. 1The grand hotels of Mumbai: the back storyColaba · In depth
    2. 2The Taj Mahal Palace, MumbaiColaba · Grand hotel
    3. 3The Oberoi, MumbaiNariman Point · Grand hotel
    See all 14

    Sights

    1. 1Gothic and Art Deco: the back storyFort · In depth
    2. 2Gateway of IndiaColaba · Landmark
    3. 3Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT)Fort · UNESCO World Heritage Site
    See all 11

    Museums & Arts

    1. 1Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya (CSMVS)Kala Ghoda · Museum
    2. 2National Gallery of Modern Art, MumbaiKala Ghoda · Art gallery
    3. 3Jehangir Art GalleryKala Ghoda · Art gallery
    See all 9

    Parks

    1. 1Sanjay Gandhi National ParkBorivali · National park
    2. 2Kanheri CavesBorivali · Rock-cut caves
    3. 3Hanging Gardens (Sir Pherozeshah Mehta Gardens)Malabar Hill · Terraced gardens
    See all 6

    Walks

    1. 1Marine Drive to Girgaon ChowpattyMarine Drive · Seafront walk
    2. 2Fort and Kala Ghoda heritage walkFort · Heritage walk
    3. 3Colaba: the Gateway, the Taj and the CausewayColaba · Neighbourhood walk
    See all 5

    Shopping

    1. 1Jio World PlazaBKC · Luxury mall
    2. 2Jio World DriveBKC · Shopping precinct
    3. 3Phoenix Marketcity MumbaiKurla · Mall
    See all 5

    Health

    1. 1Emergencies: call 112India · Emergency number
    2. 2Breach Candy HospitalBreach Candy · Hospital
    3. 3Jaslok HospitalPedder Road · Hospital
    See all 10

    Property

    1. 1Buying in Mumbai: the back storyMumbai · In depth
    2. 2Knight Frank IndiaPrabhadevi · Property consultancy
    3. 3India Sotheby’s International RealtyBKC · Luxury brokerage
    See all 6

    Developments

    1. 1Navi Mumbai International Airport (opened 2025)Navi Mumbai · Airport
    2. 2Metro Line 3, the Aqua Line (open end to end)Mumbai · Underground metro
    3. 3Atal Setu (Mumbai Trans Harbour Link)Sewri · Sea bridge
    See all 7

    Luxury Cars

    1. 1Porsche Centre MumbaiSantacruz West · Porsche dealer
    2. 2Lamborghini MumbaiPrabhadevi · Lamborghini dealer
    3. 3Rolls-Royce Motor Cars MumbaiNavi Mumbai · Rolls-Royce dealer
    See all 5

    Getting Around

    1. 1Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (BOM)Santacruz–Sahar · Airport
    2. 2Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA)Navi Mumbai · Airport
    3. 3Metro Line 3 (Aqua Line)Mumbai · Metro
    See all 13

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